One of the biggest concerns patients have concerning their dental bone graft procedure san francisco is how painful the procedure will be. If this is a concern for you, please be reassured that the procedure is outpatient and you will be given a local anesthetic to ensure you do not experience any discomfort during the procedure. If necessary or required, dental sedation may also be provided, which will put you in a much more relaxed state, and may even cause you to not remember the procedure happening depending on the type of sedation used.
Prior to scheduling your bone graft procedure, an initial consultation will take place to determine whether you require a bone graft. This will be determined by taking diagnostic exams to get a better understanding of the underlying bone structure. During this appointment, your periodontist will discuss treatment options and answer any questions or concerns you may have. If you are concerned about experiencing discomfort during or after the procedure, this is a good opportunity to discuss what sedation options are available and what you can expect during and after the procedure.
How Do Bone Grafts Work?
What type of bone graft is used will largely depend on where the lost tooth is located and the extent of damage. A socket graft is the most common type of graft used and can either be synthetic or made of human tissue, which is placed directly into the socket. In addition to preventing the socket from collapsing, this graft will also help facilitate the regeneration of new bone, a process that usually takes four to six months.
Two other, less commonly used types of bone grafts are the bone block graft and the ridge preservation graft. A block bone graft is required when there are significant jawbone defects. The material is harvested from a small block bone is placed into the area of defect and secured with titanium screws. A lateral ridge preservation graft may be performed as part of a dental implant process to increase jawbone width. Both procedures typically take between four to six months to heal.
Patients who require a dental implant in their upper jaw may require a sinus lift procedure. This procedure involves lifting the membrane of the sinus and placing graft material into this area to create enough bone to hold an implant. The healing process following a sinus lift may take up to one year, depending on your body’s natural healing process.
What Happens After the Bone Grafting Procedure?
Following your bone grafting procedure, you will likely be given antibiotics to reduce your risk of infection. You may also be given prescription pain medication, although in most cases the pain following the dental bone graft procedure is minimal enough that it can be managed with OTC drugs like Tylenol. You will also schedule your follow up visit to monitor the status of your graft. Once enough new bone has regenerated, you will be ready to schedule your appointment for placement of your dental implant, which can now be secured by the newly regenerate bone.
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